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DIFFUSING AND ESSENTIAL OILS FOR BEDTIME

I have been a long time essential oil addict. From diffusing, to adding them to my soaps, showers and baths, to using them topically. There aren’t many things I don’t use essential oils for!

I want to share a bit about how and why we use essential oils for sleep and relaxation. In an effort to promote better sleep, we have been using essential oils in our night time routine for years. It’s evolved and changed a lot, but here is where we are at now!

why use essential oils?

There are so many different essential oils. They are a great holistic approach to be used topically or by diffusing for many ailments and various symptoms. You can use oils to promote relaxation, energy/focus, to treat a headache, nausea, PCOS symptoms, just as a few examples. You can also diffuse oils as a non-toxic alternative to candles and toxic air fresheners. Many essential oils are great for cleaning, skin care, and homemade products like my homemade non-toxic deodorant  and so much more! The options are endless with essential oils, and that is way we use them so much in our house.

I love using oils to promote relaxation and better sleep for my whole family. There are a variety of oil combinations to use, and ways to use them, so here are a few of my favorite ways!

essential oils that promote better sleep

lavender

frankincense

bergamot

sandalwood

chamomile

patchouli

cedarwood

ylang ylang

vetiver

there are so many more… but this is a good start and some of my most used for this purpose.

my personal favorite blend to diffuse for restful sleep

3 drops lavender 

2 drops frankincense 

2 drops cedarwood 

1 drop ylang ylang 

topical use sleep blend

10 drops lavender

5 drops frankincense

5 drops ylang ylang

5 drops bergamot

combine drops with 1/2 cup coconut oil. apply to wrists and soles of feet before bed.

oils for bedtime bath

10 drops of any combination of the following oils:

lavender, frankincense, sweet orange, peppermint, lemon.

essential oil brands

As you may know, there are so many different essential oil brands. I trust and like oils from:

doterra

mountain rose herbs

vitruvi

I personally don’t use any store bought essential oil brands, because I am picky about what oils we use. I would highly recommend these brands listed. I have been using many of them for years and trust their quality. I like diffusing all these brands, and though I have not used Vitruvi oils topically, I have loved diffusing them! I think that Vitruvi oils would be a great option for diffusing because they are a great price.

I also want to mention that I have been using Vitruvi focus mist and wake roll on.  Both of these are incredible, so while I have not tried their sleep roll on and sleep mist yet (have to get one next!) I would recommend it based off these products! I will share more about these two in my next essential oil post on oils that promote focus and energy (coming soon! sign up for emails!).

what diffuser to use?

I have tried tons of diffusers over the years. Many of them break after so much time of consistent use. Lately, I have been using Vitruvi  white stone diffuser. It runs for 7.5 hours, uses ultrasonic technology to diffuse, and is so beautiful. It also has an optional light which I love! The quality of this diffuser is amazing, and so far I am really impressed!

I have used young living diffusers several times, and they always end up breaking! The doterra ones are pretty good, but Vitruvi is a much better quality than any that I have used. Highly recommend it if it’s in your budget! I also think it would make a great Christmas present for just about anyone.

Do you use essential oils for sleep or relaxation? Join the conversation on my Instagram!

*Vitruvi gifted this diffuser and their oils to me for this post. These are my own opinions and views. I would not recommend any product (gifted or not) that I did not believe in, love, or use myself! We have been using these products since they day I got them, and I truly have been impressed with the quality.

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DITCHING THE TOXIC PILLOW

Have you ever considered the toxicity of your sleeping environment? We spend one third of our lives sleeping, which is a lot of time spent in your bed. This is why our sleep conditions and environment can play a major role in our overall health.

There is a lot I can get into about creating a less toxic sleep environment, but for now we are going to focus on one thing, one really big thing: your pillow.

Dangers of conventional pillows

There are so many different types of pillows out there, so I will focus on cotton and down. Cotton is one of the dirtiest crops in terms of pesticides. It’s widely used in pillows, mattresses, sheets, bedding, etc. These things are also treated with chemicals to be flame-retardant. Then there is down. Not only is the process of collecting the feathers inhumane, but they are often contaminated with allergens that only get worse over time. Feather pillows are also more likely to contain mold and fungi. Not things you want to be sleeping on every night!

Organic Pillows

There are a lot of organic pillow options out there, but I have been loving this one from Savvy Rest. It’s filled with kapok, a great down alternative. Kapok is a fiber that feels silky-soft, and is so cozy. It’s a natural fiber resembling cotton, but way more luxurious. My kids have been using organic cotton pillows, which are really comfy, but they are no comparison to the kapok! This fiber also naturally repels moisture, a huge plus.

Overall, conventional pillows can be full of chemicals and toxins, which we are then laying on, sleeping on, and breathing in. It’s no good! But it’s not something many of us even consider.

Customizing Kapok Pillows

I do need to be completely honest that when I first laid on this pillow, it was WAY too stiff for me. It felt so cozy, but it was too full for me. You wouldn’t believe how easy a fix this is, because you can completely customize your kapok pillow to your personal taste! All you have to do is unzip and remove some of the fibers. Then you can re-use the fibers in a throw pillow, or something so none of it is wasted. Another idea is to save the filling you take out for later on when the fibers have been compressed down a bit to fluff it back up again! After doing this, it was basically like laying on a cloud!

 

Have you swapped out your conventional pillows?

Have you ever heard of or tired kapok?

 

 

 

*This post contains affiliate links. *This pillow was sent to me for review, and I would never share anything I don’t fully love. trust, or believe in.